there also was reading the assessments and understanding the threats he knew that this was a difficult environment to operate in as well. it's a horrible tragedy that took place and something that we hope and pray will never happen again but to make political hay and gain out of it, it really doesn't help support the efforts of our people. >> quickly i have to ask you, were you disappointed in the handling of -- ambassador rice came out with the information she had available at the time, congressman king of new york wanting her to resign, paul ryan said in a new interview he would not go that far. again, a lot of moving parts. were you disappointed in how this at least was handled if there is, in fact, now an opening for political gain or genuine questions here? >> well, i think that the attempt to make political gain out of this came forward before any facts were known. it's clear this is a strategy that's being pur sisued by the romney team and unfortunately they're continuing to look for more reasons to make an argument that president obama's foreign policy, which is hands down much more popula